The Next Big Idea
App development is big business and new apps by aspiring entrepreneurs and inventors continue to come out each day. Some of the best apps involve ways to improve people’s lives. They can also build empathy.
Ethan Harris has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the lungs. Still, this middle school student looks for ways to help others. Even while managing his school work and disability, Ethan developed the concept for a breath tracker app. The app keeps medical information that is collected during doctor’s visits all in one place.
Directions: Watch this video from the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs “Limitless” series. As you watch, think about the challenges Ethan faces, how his story builds empathy in others, and how he defies stereotypes of what it is like to live with a disability.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Pause/Play video playback |
| Enter | Pause/Play video playback |
| m | Mute/Unmute video volume |
| Up and Down arrows | Increase and decrease volume by 10% |
| Right and Left arrows | Seek forward or backward by 5 seconds |
| 0-9 | Fast seek to x% of the video. |
| f | Enter or exit fullscreen. (Note: To exit fullscreen in flash press the Esc key. |
| c | Press c to toggle captions on or off |
Take Notes
After watching the video, use the space below to write brief responses to these questions.
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What specific challenges does Ethan deal with in his daily life?
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How does Ethan deal with these challenges and help others with cystic fibrosis?
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In what ways does Ethan show empathy for others?
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